Automatic train-pipe connector.



V. ROBINSON AUTOMATIC TRAIN PIPE CONNECTOR,

APPLICATION- FILED MAR.I5.1913.

1 45,781 Patentd Nov. 6, 1917.

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AUTOMATIC TRAIN PIPE CONNECTOR.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 15, 913.

1,245,781 Patented Nov. U, 1917.

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JOSEPH V. ROBINSON, OF CHEVY CHASE, MARYLAND.

AUTOMATIC TRAIN-PIPE CONNECTOR.

Application filed March 15, 1913.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Josnrn V. ROBINSON, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Chevy Chase, in the county of Montgom-j ery, State of Maryland, have invented certain-new and useful Improvements in Automatic Train-Pipe Connectors, of which the following is a specification. I

This invention relates to automatic train pipe couplings and has for its object to provide an improved interchange or adapter for connecting one or more pipes of a car.

The invention consists in the combinations, arrangements and improvements hereinafter described, pointed out in the appended claims and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1, is a sectional side view of my improved adapter applied to the head of an automatic train pipe coupling.

Fig. 2, is a detail of the locking device showing how it clamps the adapter -to the coupling head.

Fig. 3, is a rear view of the adapter, and

Fig. 4, is a front face view of my improvement.

Referring to the drawings: My improved adapter may be used upon any satisfactory form of coupling head, but I show a head A of substantially oval outline having three vertically alined ports 5, 6 and 7 and provided with diagonally spaced forwardly extending laterally diverging guiding prongs 8, each prong being provided with a portion or shoulder 9 for abutting complementary portions of the adapter.

The adapter B comprises a plate 10 having three ports arranged to cooperate with the ports in the coupling head. The plate 10 is provided with forwardly extending guide flanges 11 of suitable form to fit portions of the edges of the coupling head, while the remaining portions 12 of the margin of the adapter are shaped to fit against the shoulders 9 of the guides 8 or any other suitable form of guides with which the coupling head maybe provided. The flanges 11 of the adapter insure proper register of specification of Letters Patent.

.it so that they cannot turn relatively.

Patented Nov. 6, 1917.

Serial No. 754,606.

the latter with the coupling head in assembling.

On its rearward side the adapter carries three nipples 13, 14 and 15, the central nipple 14 extending farther rearward than the others. To the nipples 13 and 14 air coupling members 16 and 17 are securely connected and to the nipple 15 a steam coupling 18 is connected. The air coupling members may be of any approved type adapted to mate with coupling members of hand couplers on cars which are not provided with the automatic coupling. The steam coupling member 18 is provided 'with an arm 19 which lies in a plane approximately at right angles to the plane of the coupling face 20.

Forwardly extending lugs 21 on the adapter carry locking devices for locking the adapter to the coupling head A. One

the lug 21 and provided with a tapering point 23 adapted to engage the rear side of the coupling head A and draw the adapter tightly against the face thereof. See Fig.2. The tapering point of the screw acts as a cam to draw the parts tightly together. It is provided with a knob or handle 24 which is adapted to slide on the stem of the screw but must turn with they screw. As shown, the stem 25 of the screw is fiat on opposite sides and the knob 24 is fitted tip small plate or washer 26 is fitted on the stem of the screw and provided with lugs 27 which interlock with notches in the knob. The washer is retained on the stem of the screw by a suitable key, and the spring 28 surrounding the stem of the screw and interposed between the washer and the inner end of the knob tends constantly to push 'ing device, the tapering points of the screw 22 acting as cams which produce a wedging or clamping efi'ect as they are forced to the locked position.

llt will thus be seenthat by a simple device l have provided means for securely locking the adapted to the face of the coupling head. As shown in Figs. 3 and 4 the same device is used to positively lock the member of a hand operated steam coupling to the corresponding member 20 of the adapter and l have designated this device by the figures used above in describing it.

In the steam coupler the part 23 cooperates with the boss on the mating steam coupler section, which boss is similar to the boss .21 shown in Fig. 2. The automatic coupling and the adapter shown in the drawing have three ports for the air signal, the air brake and the steam connection respectively. It is obvious that one or two of these ports may be omitted if desired. For

freight cars, for instance, the single central port for transmitting the air for the air brakes may be sufficient. It will also be evident that other changes in detail of construction may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention. Any satisfactory means of supporting the automatic coupling head for the oscillatory movement required by service and for suspending the head from the car may be used with my improved adapter.

Having thus described my said invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

l. The herein described train pipe connector interchange device or adapter com prising a body adapted to fit close against the face of an automatic coupling head and provided with nipples positioned to aline with ports in said face, and Inanually adjustable means on said body for exerting a camming action on the coupling head to force said parts into close relation and retain them therein.

2. The herein described train pipe connector interchange device or adapter comprising a body adapted to fit close against the face of an automatic coupling head and provided with nipples positioned to aline with ports in said face, manually adjustable clamping members on said body for forcing it into close contact with the automatic coupling head, and spring actuated locking means cooperating with said members to retain them in operative position.

3. A train pipe connector interchange device comprising a body adapted to fit close against a face of an automatic coupling with a port therein in alinement with a port in net-area said face, means for locfing said body and coupling in such engaging relation, a nipple extending rearward from the port in said body and provided at its outer end with means for engaging a hand operated train pipe coupling, and a manually adjustable device on said means for holding the hand operated coupling in engagement therewith.

4. A train pipe connector interchange device comprising a body corresponding substantially in outline to the face of an automatic coupling and provided with ports positioned to communicate with ports in said face, screws mounted in threaded bearings on said body and adapted to be projected therefrom into position to engage the automatic coupling and hold said body in contact with the face thereof, and automatic locking means for retaining the screws in adjusted position.

5. A train pipe connector interchange device comprising a body adapted to fit against a face of an automatic coupling with a port therein in alinement with a port in said face, a screw mounted in a threaded bearing in said body and adapted to be adjusted therefrom to bear against the automatic coupling to establish contact of said body therewith, a cap mounted on the screw to turn it while free to move longitudinally thereof, and a spring acting to hold said cap in engagement with the body.

6. In an automatic train pipe coupling, the combination with a coupling head having a port, of an adapter having a corresponding port, and means for clamping the adapter to the coupling head with the ports in alinement, said means comprising a clamping screw in threaded engagement with the adapter and spring pressed lockin means for locking said screw in any desire adjustment.

7. In an automatic train pipe coupling, the combination with a portedhead, of an adapter having a corresponding port, guides for registering the adapter with the head of the coupling, and a screw threaded device on the adapter havinga tapering point for engagement with the coupling head to securely hold the adapter to said head.

lln testimony whereof I afix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JUSEPH V. ROBTNSQN. Witnesses:

J. A. Warson, M. @rrnrr. 

